Phil Hemingway: Johnson County needs better fiscal oversight

My name is Phil Hemingway and I am a Republican candidate for Johnson County Supervisor on the June 8 ballot. I was born and raised in Johnson County, and have farmed or worked in the skilled trades all my adult life.

I spent five years managing the largest cattle ranch in Belize, Central America where I met my future wife, Anita, to whom I’ve been married for 28 years. I also worked in agricultural related fields in Africa and the former Soviet Union. I am a local business owner since 1997 and a former member of the 105 Steel Workers Union of Davenport.

I served for four years on the Board of Education of the Iowa City Community School District from 2015 to 2019. I was the lone board member on the steering committee that approved Agricultural Education and FFA in our schools for the first time. I also worked with community members and district staff on a playground committee which was responsible for the district’s inclusive playground policy. I was the chairman of the board’s finance committee for three years and volunteered to review bills and invoices of all district expenditures every two weeks.

I look to bring this same level of fiscal oversight to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. The Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial Board, in November 2018 stated: “There is simply no other member of the School Board with his tenacity or attention to detail, especially on fiscal matters.” We need to be wise and smart on how we spend our money. I also look to bring my blue-collar, common sense background to this position.

Local businesses are hurting from COVID restrictions and need experienced leadership from someone who has actually run a business and lived and worked under the tax and regulatory burdens of Johnson County.

Rural residents and farmers, as well as all members of our community, need allies not adversaries when it comes to the Board of Supervisors. Everyone needs to be able to trust that the decisions made are fair and are applied equally to all with fidelity; and that people who navigate county services have a consistent and clear road map with no surprises.

It is important to support law enforcement, first responders and the rule of law — a society that does not do this will quickly disintegrate into anarchy and chaos. All county elected officials and employees must be accountable to the community. All voices should be shared, recognized and valued. I have always supported and protected every individual’s right to free speech and assembly and will continue to do so; but we, as a community, should not tolerate the destruction of public and private property to that end. We must recognize differences of opinion and conduct our conversations in a civil manner.

If you have any questions for me, contact me via email: hemingwayforsupervisor@gmail.com.

I ask for your vote on or before June 8.

Phil Hemingway is a Republican candidate in the June 8 special election for Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Early voting is available through the Johnson County Auditor’s Office.